7. The Advantages of Becoming a Data waived Physician

The Drug Enforcement Administration has a regulatory responsibility in overseeing the nearly 1.8 million registrants who prescribe and dispense controlled substances. To support these healthcare communities, the DEA has developed education and prevention programs to engage and educate healthcare professionals in the fight against the Opioid Epidemic, including the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) waiver program. There are approximately 1.68 million practitioners eligible to become) DATA-waived in order to prescribe, administer and dispense buprenorphine. But only 3 percent of these practitioners nationwide are registered to do so. And the DEA supports expanded treatment efforts to stem the opioid epidemic. In this report, we visit a DEA ‘Practitioner Diversion Awareness Conference’ to learn more.
ABOUT THIS SEGMENT
This segment was produced as part of ‘The Opioid Epidemic: Empowering Community Action’ a news and current affairs-style program designed to raise awareness of effective practices communities are using to stem and reverse the epidemic produced in collaboration by the AMA Alliance (AMAA) and ITN Productions. The program aims to highlight the commitment of the government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and AMA Alliance community to work towards solutions on the most pressing issues in addressing solutions for patients enhancing comprehensive treatment and support for substance use disorders, public education and training that helps to both tackle the epidemic and end the stigma, and misperceptions associated with having a substance use disorder. ‘The Opioid Epidemic: Empowering Community Action’ features interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles of leaders and key organizations, who are working to end the Nation’s opioid epidemic.